Stand and automatic unloading material handling box



1966 A. 1.. THOMAS 3,265,230

STAND AND AUTOMATIC UNLOADING MATERIAL HANDLING X Filed June 1, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR ATTO NEYS Aug. 9, 1966 A. L. THOMAS 3,265,230

STAND AND AUTOMATIC UNLOADING MATERIAL HANDLING BOX Filed June 1, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet a ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent 3,265,230 STAND AND AIJTGMATIC UNLUADING MATERIAL HANDLING BOX Andrew L. Thomas, Colorna, Mich, assignor to Whirlpool Corporation, Benton Harbor, Mich, a corporation of Delaware Filed June 1, 1964, Ser. No. 371,505 Claims. (til. 214-307) This invention relates generally to a combination of a supporting stand and material handling box and more particularly to a combination of independently spring biased actuating members mounted on a supporting stand and disposed for engaging indentations in a sliding door of a material handling box.

Material handling stands and boxes are employed around work areas for transporting and making readily available large numbers of items to be supplied to a production line for fabricating apparatus or component sub-assemblies. Heretofore, such material handling stands and boxes have included hopper structures for receiving such items from a transportable box. The items received in the hopper are then conveniently accessible by a workman which greatly facilitates assembly line procedures.

The prior known stands and boxes generally included a slidable door normally positioned for closing an opening and having a door member or handle thereon. In one form of a stand structure there is included a rigid bar fixedly secured across the front of the stand for engaging and automatically opening the door as the box is lowered onto the stand by engaging a protruding abutment on its door for facilitating such function. Such prior art arrangements present many difficulties and disadvantages. For instance, while the box is being moved, as by a fork lift truck, the protruding abutment on the door presents a safety hazard. Furthermore, the protruding abutment promotes accidental or premature opening of the door and loss of the contents within the box. A protruding abutment on such prior devices is also prone to damage by inadvertent handling of the box and creates stacking and storing problems.

It can be better understood how far the abutment must necessarily extend in such prior art devices when it is considered that during placement of the box on the stand, the front portion of the box rotates in an arcuate path. Such arcuate movement of the front portion of the box causes the abutment to move in a linear horizontal direction with respect to the rigid bar on the stand. This relative movement between the bar and the abutment resulted in frictional wear and undue stresses being placed on the door and the rails in which the door is slidably mounted.

The structure of the heretofore known material handling stands inherently required a partially closed front portion. That is, the hopper structure and door actuating bar obstructed the front portion of the stand and interfered with the gravity unloading of the contents of the box. Therefore, the box contents could not be emptied either directly on the bench, on a conveyor, or into another box. This difficulty can be more fully realized when it is understood that in the prior known material handling stands, a portion of the Weight of the box was supported by the hopper structure. Therefore, to remove the hopper structure from such devices, would completely disable the device.

In accordance with this invention, a box is provided in which loose articles may be transported and a slidable track supported door forms one wall of the box, which door has sockets or recesses for cooperating with spring cushioned actuator plungers carried on a stand. A stand receiving the box carries spring biased actuator plungers suitably spaced to engage the sockets or recesses, thereby opening the door automatically when the box is positioned on the stand.

Patented August 9, 1966 When the door is opened the contents may be directed onto a conveyor passing through or adjacent the stand or into a container or a utilization area.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide an improved stand and automatic material handling box which overcomes the deficiencies of the prior art.

It is another object of this invention to provide a stand for a material handling box with independently spring biased actuating members engaging sockets or indentations in a sliding door of the box.

Another object of this invention is to provide a material handling stand and box which eliminates the need of a protruding member or abutment on the door of the box.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a material handling stand and box which greatly increases safety during handling and use thereof, reduces accidental opening of the box, reduces damage to the box by inadvertent handling, and facilitates easier stacking and storing of the box.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a material handling stand and box which eliminates frictional wear and undue stresses between the operational parts and elements thereof.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a material handling stand which supports the entire weight of a material handling box thereon.

These and other objects of the present invention will be more fully realized and understood from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a view in perspective of the improved stand and automatic unloading material handling box of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged detail view of one spring biased actuating member employed with the novel stand;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken along line III-III of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a side elevational view partly in section showing the stand and material handling box in an initial relative position with respect to one another; and

FIGURE 5 is a side elevational view partly in section showing the stand with the material handling box in final supported position thereon.

Life reference numerals throughout the various views of the drawings are intended to designate the same or similar structures.

With reference to the drawings in detail, and in particular to FIGURE 1, there is shown the preferred form of the present invention in gravity unloading position. A stand, generally designated with the reference numeral 1d, includes a pair of front support legs 12 and a pair of back support legs 14. The legs are supported with respect to one another across the side and back of the stand by means of the members 16. Therefore, the stand is provided with an open front portion defined by a pair of legs 12. The members 16 support the legs with respect to one another at points thereon spaced from the lower ends thereof. Secured to an upper end of the legs 14 are a pair of supporting mounts 18 and secured to the side members 16 are a pair of front supporting mounts 20.

A material handling box generally designated with the reference numeral 22 includes a pair of back legs 24 and a pair of front legs 26 thereon. The legs 24 are disposed for engaging the supporting mounts 18 and allowing pivotal support for the front portion of box 22.

A front Wall 28 of the box is provided with an opening 30 therein. A pair of side rails 32 are secured to the box on either side of opening 30. A door 34 is slidably mounted in the rails 32 and is disposed for normally closing the opening 30 when the box is separated from the stand. The door 34 is provided with a pair of sockets or indentations 36 which may be formed by means of apertures or recesses. If desired, a backing plate 35 may be secured to the back side of the door 34 covering each corresponding aperture. It is to be understood, however, that rails 32 allow sufficient clearance between the backing plate 35 and wall 28 to allow door 34 to move to an extreme upward position.

In accordance with this invention there is provided a pair of actuating members 38 which are more clearly illustrated in FIGURES 2 and 3 as including a cylindrical barrel portion 40 having a spring 42 therein and a longitudinal slot 44 in one side wall thereof. A channel member 46 serves to secure the barrel portion 40 to a respective leg by means of a bolt 48. A cylindrical plunger 50 is disposed within the barrel and a set screw 52 is threadably engaged therewith for contacting the spring 42. The head of the set screw 52 is disposed in the slot 44 for maintaining the plunger 50 in aligned relationship with the barrel 40. Secured to and extending from the free end of the plunger 50 is a pilot or finder member 52 having a notch 55 formed in the end thereof to provide a shoulder 54 which is disposed for engaging one edge of the socket or indentation 36 of the door 34.

FIGURE 4 shows the initial position of the box 22 with respect to the stand 10 when it is being lowered thereon. The legs 24 engage the supporting mounts 18 and the pilot member 52 of the plunger engages the sockets or indentations 36. In operation, the pilot member 52 may engage the door at a point below the sockets or indentations 36. As a fork lift truck or vehicle (not shown), which is supporting the box, lowers the box and allows it to pivot about the mount 18, the pilot or finder members 52 perform to seek out the sockets or indentations 36. As the fork lift truck continues to lower the front portion of the box 22, the pilot members 52 engage the sockets or indentation 36 and provide a lifting force on the door 34. Since the front portion of the box 22 moves in an arcuate path, the sockets or indentations 36 will have a component of horizontal linear movement with respect to the stand. That horizontal linear movement of the box 22 relative to the stand 10 will result in the plungers Stl moving against the bias of the springs 42 until the box 22 is in the position shown in FIGURE 5 and the door 34 is separated from the opening 30. As shown in FIG- URE 5, the supported position of the box provides for its entire weight to be supported by the mounts 18 and 20 and is not supported on the door 34.

Since the stand structure 10 is provided with an open front portion and the legs thereof are supported with respect to one another at points spaced from a floor level, any type of receptacle can be employed for receiving the contents of box 22. For instance, a conveyor belt may pass through the stand from front to back or from side to side adjacent thereto. Furthermore, the contents of the box may be unloaded directly onto a bench surface, into another box, or into a suitable hopper or container for convenient access by a workman.

The principles of the invention explained in connection with the specific exemplification thereon will suggest many other applications and modifications of the same. It is accordingly desired that, in construing the breadth of the appended claims they shall not be limited to the specific details shown and described in connection with the exemplification thereof.

Although various minor structural modifications might be suggested by those versed in the art, it should be understood that it is desired to embody within the scope of the patent warranted hereon all such modifications as reasonably and properly come within the scope of the contribution thereof to the art.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. In combination,

a supporting stand,

a material handling box having front, rear and side walls and being disposed for being received on said stand in inclined position,

said box having an opening in said front wall thereof,

a door slidably mounted on said box and registering with said opening and having a recess formed therea spring biased actuating member mounted on said stand and projecting toward said door for movement on an axis intersecting said front wall,

said recess disposed for receiving and seating said actuating member, said actuating member movable axially against the spring bias when said front wall is moved downwardly in an arcuate path to said inclined position, whereby said door will be moved away from said opening when said box is lowered into inclined seating engagement with said stand.

2. In combination,

a supporting stand,

a material handling box having a front wall and being removably supported on said stand in inclined position,

said box having an opening in said front wall thereof,

a door slidably mounted on said box for vertical movement relative to said box and registering with said opening to open and close said opening upon movement of said door,

said door having recesses therein,

a corresponding number of actuating members mounted on said stand and projecting toward said door for movement on axes generally transverse to an arcuate path of movement of said front wall,

and means for biasing said actuating members against the recesses of said door and moving said door to open position relative to said opening when said box is lowered into seating engagement with said stand while accommodating axial movement of said actuating members against the bias.

3. In combination,

a supporting stand having an open front portion and a plurality of supporting legs,

a material handling box, having an opening in a front wall thereof,

a door slidably mounted on said box for selectively closing said opening,

support means on said stand to support said box in an inclined seated position on said stand to facilitate gravitational discharge of the contents of said box through said opening,

a pair of actuating members mounted on said stand and projecting toward said door,

said door having a pair of recesses therein each receiving a respective one of said actuating members,

and means for biasing said actuating members toward said box in its sea-ted position and yieldable upon displacement of said actuating members by said door, thereby to cushion the engagement of said actuating members with said door upon the lowering of said box onto said stand.

4. In combination,

a supporting stand having a pair of upper and lower supporting mounts,

a material handling box removably supported on said upper and lower mounts,

said box including an opening in one end thereof supported on said lower mount,

a door movably mounted on said box and normally closing said opening when said box is separated from said stand,

a plurality of spring biased actuating members mounted on said stand and projecting transversely toward said one end of said box in the supported position thereof on said stand,

and mating indentation means in said door receiving said actuating members for moving said door away from said opening when said box is placed on said stand in supported relationship therewith, said actuating members moving against the spring bias during the downward movement of said one end of said box.

5. In combination,

a supporting stand having an open front portion and a plurality of legs,

an upper supporting mount secured to one end of said legs at a back portion of said stand,

a lower supporting mount secured to said stand forwardly of said upper supporting mount but spaced from the open front portion thereof,

a material handling box removably supported on said upper and lower mounts in inclined relation to said stand, said box having an opening in the end thereof supported on said lower mount allowing discharge of the contents of said box through said opening and the open front portion of said stand by gravitational force,

a door slidably mounted on said box for controlling gravitational flow through said opening and being in closed position with said opening when said box is separated from said stand,

an actuating member mounted on said legs adjacent said open front portion of said stand and projecting transversely toward said door,

said door having a recess receiving said actuating member,

and means for biasing said actuating member toward said door to form a resilient cushion for said actuating member and lbiasing said actuating member toward said door of said box in its supported position in said stand and accommodating displacement of said actuating members during downward movement of said box.

References Cited by the Examiner HUGO O. SCHULZ, Primary Examiner.

GERALD M. FORLENZA, Examiner.

A. GRANT, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN COMBINATION, A SUPPORTING STAND, A MATERIAL HANDLING BOX HAVING FRONT, REAR AND SIDE WALLS AND BEING DISPOSED FOR BEING RECEIVED ON SAID STAND IN INCLINED POSITION, SAID BOX HAVING AN OPENING IN SAID FRONT WALL THEREOF, A DOOR SLIDABLY MOUNTED ON SAID BOX AND REGISTERING WITH SAID OPENING AND HAVING A RECESS FORMED THEREIN, A SPRING BIASED ACTUATING MEMBER MOUNTED ON SAID STAND AND PROJECTING TOWARD SAID DOOR FOR MOVEMENT ON AN AXIS INTERSECTING SAID FRONT WALL, SAID RECESS DISPOSED FOR RECEIVING AND SEATING SAID ACTUATING MEMBER, SAID ACTUATING MEMBER MOVABLE AXIALLY AGAINST THE SPRING BIAS WHEN SAID FRONT WALL IS MOVED DOWNWARDLY IN AN ARCUATE PATH TO SAID INCLINED POSITION, WHEREBY SAID DOOR WILL BE MOVED AWAY FROM SAID OPENING WHEN SAID BOX IS LOWERED INTO INCLINED SEATING ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID STAND. 